Specifications

5-7

Getting Started

Making Your First Measurement

Introduction

The following procedure is designed to give you confidence in using the instrument

and by performing a simple error measurement. It shows you

how to cable the system and set up the error performance analyzer to perform a simple

back-to-back error measurement. The procedure also introduces you to many of the

instrument operating features.

Procedure

Ensure that 50Ω cables are used to connect the Agilent 70843 IN/OUT ports. All the

cables, adapters and terminations you need are supplied with your instrument.

1. Connect the Agilent 70340A clock source RF OUTPUT port to the pattern generator

CLOCK IN port.

2. Connect the pattern generator DATA OUT and CLOCK OUT ports to the error

detector DATA IN and CLOCK IN ports respectively. Terminate any unused ports

with 50Ω terminations (Agilent part number 1250-2121). See Figure 5-4 on page 5-8.

Ensure the Agilent 70843 error performance analyzer and Agilent 70004A display rear-

panel HP-MSIB ports are connected.

Initial Switch On

3. Switch on power to the Agilent 70843 and the Agilent 70004A display. All instrument

and display LEDs will illuminate and then extinguish after a few seconds. The display

will cycle through a range of colors, give a display indicating Agilent 70004A DIS-

PLAY and a message stating For instrument display press DISPLAY then NEXT

INSTR, and finally display the status of the instrument selected before the last power

down. The ACT LED on the Agilent 70843 will be illuminated when it has control of

the keyboard.Wait until the display settles to indicate instrument status before continu-

ing with this procedure. If instrument status is not displayed, press then

Initial settings

4. Before you perform a measurement you must first configure the system to suit your

application. Choose your own configuration using the instrument hardkeys and

softkeys (refer to the pull-out card in the tray beneath the display for help) or select one

of three stored predefined, complete instrument configurations. They are PRESET 0,

PRESET 1 and PRESET 2.

hardkeys

softkeys

DISPLAY

NEXT INSTR